Install the latest update, version, or license extension. If you can not find the latest update, version, or license extension please call our support line. The number of the latest version is posted on the "Current Version" page under "Product Info" on our website.  If think you have installed the latest update, ensure that it was installed in the same directory at the complete program.  If you are using a short-cut or desktop icon to access the program, ensure that the "target" is pointing to the correct file path.

Once you have entered the appropriate amount for the dependent's net income, you must press the "Tab" key on your keyboard to register the input.  You may then click the "OK" button to close the window and continue.  If the dependent does not have any net income, leave the input field at zero and simply press the "Tab" key to continue.  Details on the "Amount for Eligible Dependent" and other important tax credits may be found in the Help file.  Either click the question mark on the AED window, push F1 on your keyboard, or choose "Help" from the main menu and search for the topic.

Absolutely! The current default in the program is the November 22, 2017 tables, however, you may still access all the previous tables for retroactive support calculations through ChildView^®'s "Quick Table Lookup" function.  Note that retroactive calculations for 2009 forward are done by choosing the desired year on the main menu of the program.  For the years 2013 through 2016, the December 31, 2011 tables will be automatically be used by the software.  For the 2017 year you will have a choice of either the December 31, 2011 tables or the November 22, 2017 tables.

Absolutely! ChildView^® version 2005.1.0 onward includes a calculator called the "Spousal Support Advisory Guideline Calculator." This tool is fully integrated into the existing ChildView^® program at no additional cost to you. It is found in the top, right hand corner of the "Guideline Amounts" window after you click the "Calculate/Save" button on the main window.

"Spousal Support Advisory Guideline Calculator" not only provides the spousal support range and duration suggested by the "Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines" paper, it also provides in-depth details on the calculations including the specific formula used, the tax and benefits calculations in the formula, and any child support gross up required by a specific formula.

Yes. All new versions of ChildView^® will open all valid ChildView^® data files.

You need to install the most recent "Complete" version.  Please send us an email explaining what has happened and requesting the full installer.  When you receive our email with the download link, first download and install the program and then save the license file in the same directory as the ChildView^® program has been installed.  Then open ChildView^® and follow the activation instructions.

This message means that either you have a version of the program open already or your computer thinks that you do. The simplest solution is to close all programs, reboot your machine, and run the install function again. This will clear out any residual things left in the computer's memory.

Most likely the update has not been installed in the same directory as the complete version. Determine the file path of the complete version and reinstall or move the update exe to that directory.

If you are accessing ChildView^® from a short-cut, make sure that it has the correct file path and is not pointing to an old version of the program if you have multiple versions installed.

The version number appears on the opening window of the program as well as on the main menu (window) of the program. When you receive a download link to update your program, the version number will appear in the email title.  The version number will always be in the format of "four digit year, dot major release number, dot minor release number." For example, the first new release of 2018 is version number 2018.1.0. Please refer to the topic - Version History -  in the ChildView^® Help file for more detail.  You may access the Help file from the main menu of the program, clicking any question mark in the program, or by pushing F1 on your keyboard.

ChildView^® will accept long file names (up to 256 characters). Ensure that you are using the current version and have no unacceptable characters in it, such as forward slashes. If you are still having a problem please call our support line at 1-800-787-8620.

Yes! The ChildView^® "Spousal Support Advisory Guideline Calculator" and the ChildView^® "Spousal Support Analyzer" are found at the end of the program after you click "Calculate".  These calculators use the data from the main input screens to determine the range of spousal support under the advisory guidelines and the tax consequences of various levels of spousal support in the Spousal Support Analyzer. Enter all the relevant information for your parties (party information, income and expense details etc.) in the input screens and then calculate the result. On the summary screen in the top right hand corner, click on the button of the spousal support tool you wish to use.

Choose the "Spousal Support Advisory Guideline Calculator" to determine the range of spousal support suggested by the advisory guidelines or click "Spousal Support Analyzer" to analyze the impact of various levels of spousal support. If you choose to use the advisory guidelines calculator first, you may access the ChildView^® "Spousal Support Analyzer" directly from that window. If you wish to determine a corresponding lump-sum amount then click on the "Lump Sum Payment Calculator." The calculations will be done for the tax year you have choosen on the main menu of the program.  For more details on these tools, please refer to the appropriate topic in the Help file. Access the Help file either from the main menu of the program, clicking on any question mark on a ChildView^® screen, or by pushing F1 on your keyboard.

There could be a number of different reasons.  The following discusses a few of the most common ones.

All the calculations done by the ChildView^® software, with the exception of the Child Support Guideline table look up, are time sensitive. ChildView^® uses the most current information at the time of a specific version release if the current year is chosen. For example, version 2021.1.0 incorporates all the federal, provincial and territorial income tax changes that are effective for January 1, 2021. This includes not only the standard changes due to indexation but also the relevant changes that have been announced in the federal, provincial and territorial budgets prior to the version release date. Changes announced after a version release date are incorporated into the next release, the timing of which will depend on the magnitude of the changes. Because ChildView^® issues regular updates, mid-year tax changes are addressed in a timely manner. Updates are usually issued in the late winter or early spring to incorporate CPP, EI and income tax changes, and in early summer to incorporate the benefits changes (CCB, GST and provincial / territorial programs).

Benefits programs are administered by governments on a July to June cycle, not on the calendar year cycle of income tax. ChildView^®'s calendar year calculation includes blended benefits comprised of the January to June and July to December cycles, while the July forward calculation reflects the benefits changes that are effective July 1 of that year.  In addition, the ChildView^® program allows you to choose whether to use the "base taxation year" incomes or the current year income when doing the benefits calculations.

Further, calculated results are dependent on the assumptions that go into the calculations. Different assumptions produce different results.  For example, different results might be obtained where one calculation assumes that the recipient is a single parent and the other reflects the fact that the recipient is living in a common-law relationship.  Through the detailed reporting available in the software, ChildView^® makes the assumptions used in the calculations transparent.

While ChildView^® cannot comment on what other calculators may or may not be doing, if you require verification or explanation of specific numbers, we are happy to provide you with complete details. Also, in the print preview of the ChildView^® cashflow report (Shedule D) clicking on a number highlighted in blue will allow you to drill down to greater detail, such as the composition of the benefits number.  This feature is also available in all the spousal support reports as well.

To transfer ChildView and use the same activation to a new machine.

1. Run ChildView on the old machine and on the main screen click on the logo

2. A screen similar to the one below will show your serial code.

3. Take note of the serial code and click on the Remove License button to remove license. You can now install and activate ChildView on a new machine.